The International Heliophysical Year 2007 (IHY) drew scientists and engineers from around the globe in a coordinated observation campaign of the heliosphere and its effects on planet Earth. Building on these activities, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space launched the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) in 2009.

ISWI was a program of international cooperation to advance space weather science by a combination of instrument deployment, analysis and interpretation of space weather data from these instruments in conjunction with space data, and the communication of the results to the public. While the ISWI was formally concluded in 2012, most of the activities continued beyond the formal end of the initiative. They contribute to the discussion under a new agenda item on Space Weather in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The key function of the present Workshop is to follow-up on ISWI recommendations and to maintain the capacity building momentum established by IHY and ISWI.